Grass Farming Plants Resilience in Rural Kenya

2023

Grass Farming Plants Resilience in Rural Kenya

Entry type: Single project

Country/area: Kenya

Publishing organisation: Kass Media Group

Organisation size: Small

Publication date: 2022-11-03

Language: Engilish, Kalenjin

Authors: 1

Biography:

Chemtai Kirui is a multi-Media Producer, writer, and live TV and Radio presenter with a passion for researching and reporting on Climate, Environment resources, Science, Health and Agriculture.

She works as a Science and Environment reporter at Kass Media group — a community-based Media House, Kenya. Her report on Grass Farming plants resilience in Kerio-Valley has led to public participation and debate where locally led actions towards non-chemical agricultural method is amplified.

Chemtai hosts a weekly Environmental program— airing on TV, Radio and Digital-platform. She also contributes to Sayansi Magazine, by Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture in Kenya (MESHA).

Project description:

In the face of so much disheartening news, the story of Locally-led adaptation project in Kerio Valley Basin (Kenya), is a reassurance that by adapting to Climate change, a vulnerable community can thrive.

Community in this lower-land, grapple with adverse effects of soil erosion making the area susceptible to Rock Falls, mudslides, gully erosion, landslides and flooding, that claim lives of people and livestock.

This locally-led group, called Konyasoi Vetiver Network, have adapted the practice of regenerative agriculture which helps to prevent topsoil loss, maintains soil integrity, increases biodiversity and water retention.

Impact reached:

More community members are visiting the farms of the Konyasoi Vetiver Network for field benchmarking. and trained on all aspects of vetiver grass planting, land contouring, harvesting and plant preparation.

With many awaiting the rainy season to start planting the grass and opt for alternative agriculture farming.

Techniques/technologies used:

Data Visualization- using Datawrapper

Context about the project:

Because the project is locally-led and the county government isn’t giving it the support it requires, I didn’t really receive warm welcome from the officials who would give data on the number of people affected by Soil erosion in the region Such as death, migration and population in rural Kenya.

The little data i collected from the meteorogy department and public portal on drought cases in Kenya is what ihad to work with.

What can other journalists learn from this project?

Starting on Data Journalism doesn’t have to be complicated. As a beginner in implementing Data Journalism technique, I believe there is a room for growth and improvemnet as long as we are willing to learn and practice.
The journalist should not be intimidated by Data Journalim and its visualization techniques.
The better we get at illustarting our stories, then theis able audience to consume the news especially the complicated but necessary data in a easier way, to create awareness and Public Knowledge.